Team Herald
Margao: The local Goan contractors of beach cleaning have strongly condemned the act of Tourism Department to award the work of beach cleaning to Drishti Lifeguards who the contractors allege have no experience. The contractors have demanded the Tourism Department immediately call a meeting of all the local Goan contractors who are willing to take the responsibility of beach cleaning work for a very reasonable amount and allot the same to them.
Joaquim Silveira, representing the beach cleaning contractors addressed a press conference and has urged the Tourism Minister Babu Azgaonkar to take immediate action and instruct the Tourism Department to take steps in engaging the Goan Contractors for the beach cleaning work.The Goan Contractors who earlier carried out the collection and disposal of garbage along the beach stretches in Goa from Keri in Pernem Taluka to Polem Beach in Canacona Taluka said that they did their job with utmost efficiency and without any complaints from the locals or the tourists. “the work was carried out from 2008-2014 for an amount of Rs. 1 crore 80 lakhs only compared to the previous tender which was worth a whopping Rs. 14 crores” said Joaquim Silveira.
The representative of the contractors said that they have written several letters to the Tourism Department and GTDC which were ignored and unilaterally decided to give the work of beach cleaning to one M/s Drishti Lifeguards Services. This decision was taken without inviting any tenders or quotations. It may be noted that M/s Drishti Lifeguards have no experience in beach cleaning or garbage management work.
“We have given a letter to the department that we will do it at a nominal cost. Session court has cancelled this tender. The tourism dept has not invited us even after giving letters” Joaquim told.
